Strong To The End At Tattersalls

NEWMARKET, UK–Frequent rain around Park Paddocks on Thursday tested the resolution of all those remaining for the final session of the 2018 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, but it would certainly be incorrect to describe the event itself as a damp squib.

At the close of four days' trade, there were 1,181 lots offered, compared with 1,255 last year and the aggregate was a healthy 26,853,500gns, just 3% down on the record 27,282,200gns set 12 months ago. The clearance rate was a respectable 89% across the four-day extravaganza, which included purchases by a raft of cosmopolitan visitors, compared with 85% in 2017, with the median up 9% at 12,000gns. The average was virtually unchanged at 25,599gns against 25,617gns, also comparing favourably with the records since the turn of the century.

The final day is the lowest-key of the sessions by a considerable margin, and there had not looked to be anything listed in the catalogue which was likely to threaten those in the top 10 overall, which would have required a bid of upwards of 240,000gns.

Furthermore, it would have required a new record in this sale's history again, after the 1-million gns bid from Newsells Park Stud on Wednesday night for Aljazzi (GB) (Shamardal) shattered the previous highest mark by 300,000gns.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: “While the new record price of 1-million gns was the obvious highlight, it is the huge number of overseas buyers we have welcomed this week that has been the standout feature of another successful sale at Tattersalls. There is truly no other sale quite like the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale and it continues to attract buyers from all corners of the world for whom the sale is an unmissable annual event. We have regular buyers at this sale who attend only one bloodstock sale a year and it is the diversity of the buyers which sets it apart from any other sale of this type.”

Whilst Aljazzi is set for retirement, the four-highest priced lots beneath her are heading for warmer climes, with Corrosive (Uncle Mo) bound for Saudi Arabia for 450,000gns along with Archetype (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire} (335,000gns).

Lucius Tiberius (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who was sold for 320,000gns, and Fawzi Nass's 400,000gns purchase Euginio (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) are likely to be seen next at the Dubai Carnival.

Mahony continued: “The top of the market has been as strong, if not stronger, than ever and the sale-topping filly Aljazzi is a tribute to the quality broodmare band assembled at Blue Diamond Stud by Tony Nerses on behalf of Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar, much of which will be offered for sale at the forthcoming Tattersalls December Sale. It is only the second time we have had three lots sell for 400,000gns or more at this sale and with the buyers of the top 20 lots coming from England, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Australia and the USA, it is clear that the demand for quality European bloodstock continues to thrive. The beauty of the Autumn Horses in Training Sale is that there are numerous buyers, both domestic and international, competing in all sectors of the market. British and Irish Flat and National Hunt trainers always make a massive contribution to this fixture and alongside the vast number of buyers from the Gulf region, we have also had notable participation from Greece, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Spain.”

“In the course of every year we try, alongside our overseas representatives, to explore as many overseas markets as possible, and the success of this week's sale provides encouragement as we approach the equally international Tattersalls December Sale.”

Kingwood Filly Bound For America

There were still orders to be filled from far-flung places around the world on Thursday, especially from those without unlimited resources as proceedings drew to a close, and a filly from the Kingwood Stud operation of Mehmet Kurt topped the final session.

Space Talk (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who was with Harry Dunlop, had added a win on the Lingfield Polytrack to her page since the catalogue was published and arrived early in the programme at lot 1269.

Kingwood in Lambourn, also the home of the owner's innovative Kurtsystem for pre-training, consigned a few yearlings at Book 3 and Book 4 and has also raced a few with a handful of local trainers.

She attracted a handful of interested bidders before Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock made the decisive move for 80,000gns.

“She is a consistent filly with form on faster ground and she put in some good sectionals the other day,” Boman explained. “She's going to America and she will suit the racing programme there.”

Dunlop's words provided a commendation for the Kurtsystem, the mechanised track upon which horses are not ridden but loosely harnessed to cabins which monitor them. Kurt, a Turkish businessman, believes it reduces the injury rate both in the present and the future. It opened for public use last year and although not widely in the consciousness of the wider racing community, small success stories such as this will do it no harm.

“This filly was bred at the stud and she also did some pre-training on [the Kurtsystem],” he said. “I trained her for the majority of the summer and she was very consistent, placing three times. She won in quite a tough race at Lingfield and we were thrilled with the price. I'm sure there's some lucrative money to be won with her.”

Baker Getting In The Spirit

George Baker was in an upbeat mood after selling his 125-1 surprise Goodwood winner Feel Glorious (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) for 130,000 gns earlier in the week. The Chiddingfold-based trainer dipped his toe back in the water as he gave 55,000gns for Cristal Spirit (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire} (lot 1336), a winner over a mile and a half for William Haggas at Kempton just over a week ago.

“He was bought for a gang who were looking for a fun, dual-purpose horse and we've had a few Nathaniels already,” Baker said. “It's unlikely we'll be improving him from his former trainer but we got him for a good price.”

Reflecting on Feel Glorious, Baker said: “I got left with her after buying her and ended up leasing her to the Turf Club. We managed to get her listed placed in Hannover just before the sale and it looks as if she's going to be continuing her career in America.”

Two others are bound for hurdling careers in exactly the same direction. Colm Sharkey signed firstly for lot 1502 from Joe Murphy's Highfort Stables, the twice-raced Made For You (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) for 34,000gns. The ink wasn't dry before he had collected his stablemate, Redemptorist (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}) (lot 1503) for 24,000gns.

“They are both going jumping for Olly Murphy,” said Sharkey. “We had a bit of luck with Compatriot from the same yard last year.”

Another of the more interesting lots was number 1252, Hidden Pearl (GB) (Dunaden {Fr}), whose pedigree had appealed to SackvilleDonald and trainer Ed Walker, who picked the chestnut up for 48,000gns.

Overbury's Melbourne Cup-winning stallion is quietly making a bit of an impression and his daughter, who had some speed on the dam's side, had been spotted by Walker in one of her two maidens. She is also eligible for Dunaden owners' premiums offered by the stallion's owner Sheikh Fahad.

“She finished a good fourth behind Ginistrelli, whom we think a lot of, in a Newmarket maiden,” he said.

Al Malki Makes His Mark

Quite a few hardy Middle-Eastern souls saw out the week or left instructions to their agents to secure some of the final available horses.

Conrad Allen was on the phone to Qatar in order to seal the deal for 3-year-old Zamandas (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) (lot 1353), a lightly-raced Hesmonds Stud homebred from the stable of Roger Varian with two recent all-weather wins to his name.

“He's been bought by Ibrahim Al Malki,” said Allen of the 55,000gns purchase. “We just thought he was progressive and he vetted well.”

Alex Elliott had only just taken another of the Varian draft from Carlburg Stables (lot 1352) in the similarly unexposed Noble Expression (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) for 40,000gns.

“He's for Kuwait,” said Elliott, who signed for Nader Al Afraji. “The client saw him yesterday and left instructions.”

Qatari owner Abdulatif Hussain Al-Emadi, who bought Juddmonte's Jewel House (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for 215,000gns the summer before last, picked up the promising 2-year-old Shape Of Water (Ire) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) for 50,000gns as lot 1581.

“She is for fillies and mares races in Qatar,” explained his associate Abdulatif Hussain Al-Emadi.

Houldsworth Shows His Power

Good things come to those who wait and it was evident that a few shrewd faces were waiting around until the last knockings.

It was clearly for lot 1601, Heart Power (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), a granddaughter of Hascombe And Valiant Studs' mighty Rebecca Sharp (GB) by way of Miss Pinkerton (GB) (Danehill). Matt Houldsworth's persistence paid off when he landed her for Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock for 72,000gns

“She's got one of the most alive pedigrees going,” he said, revealing she was for “an undisclosed Irish client.”

He added: “I think the dam has four foals who are already breeding. I went to see her last week to make an offer – she was the one I wanted.”